Tonight’s episode of “Would You Ride It?”
 

I finally have this TA Pro 5 Vis in hand, and it honestly doesn’t look as bad as I’d feared from the pictures. Would you put this in service? I see no cracks, and it’s a 165 length, which I prefer. Yes, it’s missing chainring bolts, I know, but that’s beside the point for now.

Front view of the area in question:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...331ee5292.jpeg


Rear view, several gouges:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5f60311ff.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b435d1a4.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9e9808c7e.jpeg

Neat. I probably have a set of bolts for that.

Why wouldn't you ride it? Are they known to fail or something?

Yes, I would ride it. I'd also buy a TA specific crank puller so that I wouldn't have to resort to a gear puller like some previous owner did.
Brent

Well, the gouges gave me pause, but these comments are reassuring.

Yep, I have that Polish Stronglight/TA double sided one that shows up on ebay.

I’d have no problem using it but the OCD in me would want to at least cleanup the gouges before using. Just to take off the rough edges.

I would ride this but I just can't get past the look of it:
https://live.staticflickr.com/3680/1...b45f0a71_b.jpgP1000180 by superissimo_83, on Flickr

I'll trade you nice 170 crankarms for the 165's ;)
I'd also pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

You can understand why I acted so hastily when I saw the reasonable price, and why I would hurriedly miss the clear pics of the damage that explained the reasonable price. Also, why I’d like them to work regardless of the damage...

But be sure that the crank-puller threads aren't stripped before you buy the tool. And if they are stripped, that might be a reason not to use the crank.